Tridents held their nerve to lift the Toyota DPL 2025 trophy after a dramatic bowl-out victory over Pirates at Loughborough鈥檚 National Cricket Performance Centre.
Sunday鈥檚 rearranged final 鈥� already delayed after Wednesday鈥檚 washout in Cardiff 鈥� met with a similar fate, with steady rain from slate-grey East Midlands skies eventually putting paid to hopes of even a reduced-overs contest.
Instead, the drama was played out indoors, where Tridents emerged victorious from a bowl out.
Adnan Ghani and Chris Edwards hit the stumps in the bowl-out to seceure a 2-1 win as Liam O'Brien's Tridents became the first side to win the trophy twice.
Victory celebrations were understandably muted after an anti-climactic finish to a memorable campaign, one that has offered further growth and increased exposure for the disability game.
Defeat was particularly cruel on Pirates 鈥� defending champions and unbeaten in 11 outings dating back to 2023鈥檚 final.
With four straight wins this term, Anthony Clapham鈥檚 side were assured of a final place ahead of last weekend鈥檚 third and critical round-robin meetings.
In what was ultimately to prove a good omen, Tridents鈥� passage had been smoothed by the rain gods, DLS success in week two over Hawks leaving them in the box seat.
Both captains took a philosophical view of the outcome, in which five players had been picked to bowl one delivery each.
For Clapham, whose powerhouse batting line-up had posted formidable totals, it was still hard to take.
鈥淧eople might liken it to a penalty shootout, which I understand to some extent, but that happens when both sides are unable to win,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 tough to lose this way, especially having beaten every team in qualification.
鈥淎 bowl out is a lottery. And unfortunately, we didn鈥檛 hit the stumps enough 鈥� credit to the Tridents lads who did. We鈥檒l be back again next year, we鈥檝e got a settled side and hopefully we can retain as many of these boys as possible.鈥�
Liam O鈥橞rien 鈥� who could have won the bowl-out himself, but sent Tridents鈥� fourth delivery narrowly wide 鈥� felt his attack鈥檚 general wicket-to-wicket smarts were in their favour.
Adnan Ghani鈥檚 strike with their opening delivery, following Jordan Williams鈥� miss first up, had given them first blood.
Their lead was immediately restored by Chris Edwards after Henry Wainman鈥檚 solitary Pirates strike.
鈥淚t was hard picking a five, because we had about six or seven who we felt were almost guaranteed to hit 鈥� Chris is like a bowling machine,鈥� said O鈥橞rien.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice for us to come through, and unlucky for Pirates. I think everyone would have liked their cricket to do the talking today, but I鈥檓 obviously happy to win, however we got over the line.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been provided opportunities we never thought we would get [via the DPL]. Obviously, it would have been nice to have shown it off on a bigger screen today, but I鈥檓 just glad we won.鈥�
Edwards鈥� critical strike with the ball earned him the Player of the Match award and a double whammy 鈥� he also picked up the Player of the Series gong for his ever-reliable showings with bat and ball.
Thoughts now turn for many of these players to the winter training camps ahead of selection for England鈥檚 mixed-disability series in India in the new year, where the hosts will be keen to avenge this summer鈥檚 6-1 touring loss.